Shakthi Shakthidharan.
Emerald Productions’ Sheila Jayadev and Lyn Norfor and writer-producer Blake Ayshford will mentor eight writers and two producers at Behind Closed Doors, a new program designed to nurture emerging storytellers from Western Sydney.
The initiative is being run by CuriousWorks, supported by Screen Australia’s Enterprise Ideas program, with the aim of introducing fresh voices and untold stories to the screen sector.
Applicants must be from a culturally and linguistically diverse or First Nations background, live in the Greater Western Sydney region and be available for workshops to be held on July 5-7 and October 18-20.
In a series of workshops and work placements the participants will work with CuriousWorks and its partners to devise and create a series of six connected short films. The anthology will then be developed for broadcast and online screening, with the added potential for theatrical exhibition.
CuriousWorks executive director Shakthi Shakthidharan said: “Our aim is to nurture the talents of emerging creatives from Sydney’s most diverse region by giving them real industry experience while also bringing fresh content made by new and creative voices to audiences hungry for bold storytelling.
“What we’ll be looking for are applicants with originality and a creative approach that will thrive under professional nurturing. This program is about providing a platform to stories not heard before, untold stories that, until now, have remained behind closed doors.”
Applicants will be asked to supply a summary of their creative work and a personal statement, either one written page or a three-minute recorded piece to camera.
CuriousWorks operates across the arts industry with original writing programs from communities that are largely invisible in mainstream media, nurturing projects over several years in partnership with key Australian or international cultural organisations.
Applications are open until Friday April 27. Go here to find out how to apply.